Some Advice to Sales

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Our sales team had an onsite meeting over the past two days. Reps from across the US came in for a series of presentations before we start our fourth quarter (April). The marketing team was involved in a number of the presentations including a product launch of Leading Through Uncertain Times as well as a general session that provided an overview on some of our initiatives.

We received some good feedback that can definitely help us refine some of our programs and messaging. However, it also produced some frustrating moments, most particularly with the sales people who consider themselves marketing professionals. I am not sure this attitude happens between any other groups. Would you go up to accounting and give them advice because you do your own taxes or balance the checkbook?

Sales is a great source of information because of their frequent customer interactions that marketing cannot replicate. That said, I know marketing, you know sales, let me do my job and I promise not give you any suggestions on proper cold call techniques.

Is Twitter and FaceBook a vialble source of traffic for all firms?

Fred Wilson, a partner at Union Square Partners, blogged today about the impact of social media on driving traffic to 3rd party sites. Specifically, Fred's post highlights the power of Twitter and FaceBook in driving traffic to websites. However, while the data certainly shows that firms should be using these outlets to drive traffic, can Twitter, FaceBook and other social mediums be leveraged by all firms?

In my case, it is not obvious given my firms brand (Harvard Business Publishing) and the restrictions surrounding the use of it for marketing purposes. Not only do the restrictions have to be weighed, but would Twitter and FaceBook have the same effect on driving traffic to our site?

Given the impact of Twitter and FaceBook, we will certainly look into having a presence and it will be interesting to see, brand restrictions aside, what the outcome will be if we do use these outlets.